asked the Minister for Finance why the Office of Public Works purchased 13 workmen's huts, which were manufactured in Wales, for use on the Boyne drainage scheme, as such articles could easily be got in Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Imports of Workmen's Huts .
13.
: Six Irish firms were invited to tender for the supply of portable workmen's huts (shelters) required for arterial drainage schemes. Three tenders were received and the huts purchased were the cheapest and most suitable on offer.
I have arranged to have further inquiries made for equivalent huts of Irish manufacture to meet any future requirements.
: Were any of the three tenders submitted by Irish firms?
: Six Irish firms were invited to submit tenders.
: How many foreign firms?
: None.
: None at all?
: They were supplied through an Irish firm.
: They were manufactured in Wales?
: They were manufactured in Wales. The Deputy is aware of the work involved in drainage. These are portable huts and can be easily moved by the gangs working on drainage schemes. The other huts submitted were of a very heavy structure and caused a lot of invonvenience to the workers in moving them. As the Deputy knows, there is continuous movement on drainage schemes. These huts were considered suitable for the work and very convenient for the workers.
: Is the Minister saying a suitable type of Irish manufactured hut is not available?
: Not to my knowledge. If the Deputy has any firm in mind I would love to hear of it.
: I was not purchasing them. The Minister's Department were.
: These huts have been used down through the years by local authorities. This is not the first time.
: All made in Wales?
: I would assume so.
: I find the Minister's answer rather confusing. I am not quite sure what he is saying. The Office of Public Works wanted 13 huts of a certain nature and structure. Were they not available, manufactured in Ireland, from Irish firms?
: These are portable huts. To my knowledge the type of huts we are talking about are not available or manufactured in Ireland. If the Deputy knows of some Irish manufacturer I would like to know of him.